Students and faculty honored at regional theater festival

Wednesday

Mar 13, 2019 at 8:58 AM

Multiple Hope College students and faculty received honors during the Region III Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, held Jan. 8-13 in Madison, Wisc.

Cast and crew involved in the Department of Theatre’s production of “Shiloh” received three awards. Staged at the college in April 2018, the devised work was written by faculty director Richard Perez and Hope theater students.

Senior Katrina Dykstra received a Theatrical Design Excellence award for her costume design for the play. As a result of the award, she has received a fully funded opportunity to attend the National KCACTF festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in May.

In addition, the ensemble of “Shiloh” was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Collaborative Performance, and theater faculty member Perry Landes was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Projections Design.

Faculty and students received four certificates of merit for the college’s November 2018 production of “Into the Woods”: music faculty member Sherri Pilon, for Excellence in Music Direction; the ensemble, for Excellence in Vocal Performance; theater faculty member Michelle Bombe and senior Megan Clark for Excellence in Costume Design; and the assistant stage managers and deck crew, for Excellence in Puppeteering.

KCACTF also hosts competitions for students to showcase their work, and several Hope College students received recognition for their artistry.

Junior Gracen Barth received the Don Childs Award for Excellence in Stagecraft for her work with “Into the Woods,” providing her a fully-funded opportunity to further develop her skills by attending the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas, Nev., in July 2020. Barth was also awarded a production manager’s tool kit.

Megan Clark was recognized for her “Into the Woods” design presentation for properties, as well as her “Arcadia” costume-design presentation.

Three teams of students participated in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition based on nominations from external evaluators.

Junior Katie Joachim was nominated for her performance as the baker’s wife in “Into The Woods,” with junior Maxwell Lam of Holland as her partner, and advanced to the competition’s semifinals. Joachim was also one of 15 students from around the region chosen to perform in a Musical Theatre Showcase, selected from among 100 who auditioned.

Freshman Emi Herman was nominated for her portrayal of Laney in the department’s October 2018 production of “Crooked,” with junior Madison Meeron as her scene partner. Senior Olivia Lehnertz was nominated for her interpretation of Cinderella in “Into the Woods,” with Gracen Barth as her scene partner.

The KCACTF is a national program designed to encourage excellence in college and university theater in the United States. The annual regional festival is a gathering of more than 1,300 theater students and faculty from 70-plus colleges and universities.

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